The Scotsman Online
gym users have been told to be 'scrupulous' about hygiene.
Killer MRSA toxin 'on the rise'
SHAN ROSS
Key points
• Sports enthusiasts warned of new infection after soldier dies from
scratch
• PVL MRSA diagnosed in 52 cases in Scotland last year
• Experts recommend hygiene regime as best defence against infection
Key quote
"PVL is more likely to be caught through violent and strong body
contact in sports such as rugby or football" - Professor Hugh
Pennington, Aberdeen University emeritus professor of bacteriology
Story in full SPORTSMEN and women in Scotland were warned last night
to be extra vigilant about their personal hygiene to avoid infection
from a potentially-deadly toxin linked to the "superbug" MRSA.
Health Protection Scotland (HPS) issued the recommendation following
an inquest into the death of Royal Marine Richard Campbell-Smith, who
died from a virulent mutation of the MRSA bug infected with the toxin
Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL).
It is thought Mr Campbell-Smith, 18, was infected after he suffered
scratches to his legs while on a training run. Once inside his body,
the bug multiplied, killing off his white blood cells. Within four
days, he was dead.
Experts last night warned that PVL MRSA was now out in the community
and warned that it could be on the rise. In the United States, there
have been an increasing number of reports of sportsmen and women being
infected, particularly American football players.
A spokeswoman for HPS said there had been 16 positive tests for PVL
MRSA so far this year. However, they mostly resulted in minor
infections or harmless carriage on the skin.
Last night a spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive said it had been
aware of 52 positive tests for PVL MRSA in 2004.
"The best protection against PVL strains is scrupulous personal
hygiene, particularly for those playing contact sports. This includes
frequent washing and regular laundering of towels and clothes. It is
also advisable not to share towels. We are monitoring the PVL issue
and will issue further guidance if necessary."
A spokeswoman for the Health Protection Agency in England stressed PVL
was "extremely rare", but there had been two deaths over the past nine
weeks and that the agency wanted to alert the public and medics.
Professor Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at
Aberdeen University, said there was no cause for panic, although
people should seek immediate medical treatment if they thought they
were at risk.
"PVL is more likely to be caught through violent and strong body
contact in sports such as rugby or football," he said. "These kinds of
activities have close skin-to-skin rubbing with violence creating the
vigorous contact which can allow the bug to enter into the skin."
Prof Pennington said scientists had known about PVL since the 1930s
but that, while in the past it was a "textbook curiosity", there was
concern because it was now out in the community. "Over the last few
years, some MRSAs have picked it up, making it 'hotter'. Most MRSAs
don't have it, but those that do can be nastier," he said.
"This particular one which the marine died from would be resistant to
antibiotics, which is an added factor giving the PVL its teeth. One of
the aspects of this bug is that it's got out into the community and is
something which we've been worried about for a while. If it gets out
into the community, it is harder to control than in hospitals, where
we recommend handwashing and isolation."
Prof Pennington stressed the need for swift life-saving action if PVL
infection was thought to be a possibility. "If something is going
wrong, like a sudden rise in temperature, call in a doctor, don't mess
around ringing NHS 24," he said. "Seek medical advice at accident and
emergency."
PVL leaves the sufferer unable to fight infection and is produced by
fewer than 1.6 per cent of strains of staphylococcus aureus - the
bacterium termed MRSA when it is resistant to the antibiotic
methicillin - found in the UK.
Mr Campbell-Smith was running at the commando training centre in
Lympstone, Devon, when he was infected. He was four weeks from the end
of his 32-week training. He was admitted to the medical unit and later
taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital where he died on 2
November.
A post-mortem showed heart and respiratory failure, and traces of PVL
were later found.
His grandmother, Edwina Fooks, told the inquest that doctors had been
unable to diagnose her grandson's conditions and were "absolutely
flabbergasted" when he died.
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